Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-04
OPEN, 10 A. M.
CLOSED, 2 P. NJ.
CLOSED.

in black letters IS painted:
OPEN, LOAN.
CLOSED, 2 P. NJ.
CLOSED.
IT. was after 2 o'clock when / called,
and the house was closed to visitors.
The door bell OF the White House is at
the right of the entrance. IL is OF
bronze and rather pretty. The door
knob was especially designed for this
door, 1t is as big around as base
ball and it has an American eagle cut
into its brass face.
Entering the White House through
these big front doors you first stand
in great vestibule or hail. This is a
conglomeration of the grand and the
cheap The floor is OF tiled mosaic,
and probably cost several dollars g.
SQUARE foot. The wall before you was
made by Tiffany. 1t shuts you off
from the grand corridor where the
guests promenade at the state recep.
ton and in which the portraits of all
the Presidents hang. 1t is splendid
piece Of glass mosaic which shines like
so many Jewels in the evening. The
chandelier in the centre of this vesti-
bule is beauty, and the walls and
the ceilings are frescoed. Thus far the
room is beautiful. But look around
you. Two cheap, rough cocoa door
mats lie upon the mosaic floor. The
woodwork OF the yestibule has been
grained to represent black walnut and
vanished, and this varnish is cracked
like an old picture. Besides the door
entering the hall there is a walnut UNI
brella stand which would be dear at
s., and in the hall beyond, at the
foot OF the stairs lies q Smyrna rug,
which long ago saw its best days. This
hall and indeed the tairs which lead to
the presidents office as well, are car
peted with an old piece OF Brussels,
which was good once, but which would
not now bring fifty cents at auction.
Against the wall sit a couple OF So
wicker chairs, and over the desk at
the foot OF the stairs hangs calendar
bearing at it's top the advertisement
oil railroad. This carpet has been
patched to fit. 1t has been sewed and
reserved, and at the edges OF the
breadths the nap is we'll worn away.
strip OF the same carpet, with q six
inch border sewed to each side OF it,
covers the stairs, and this stair car
pet is fastened by silver-headed nails.
Ascend the stairs. Each step is
worn threadbare by the tread OF
thousands of office-seekers, and at the
top OF the landing q white path OF
the well-worn Brussels marks the road
to the Presidents reception room
St0D hora o,,I iao1r hnfnre
you. There is window looking out
upon Lafayette park. This is orna-
mented with q lamberquin of green silk
which was fine once, but now faded
stained, threadbare and shabby. II
looks as though it might have beer
bought at the auction of second
class boarding house. A Holland
shade within 1T hides its shabbiness
from the street.
Now walk along the path OF thu
ofhce-seekers. Go through those wid'
loors OF walnut which are fastened
back at the bottom by fve-cent iroI
looks, and you stand in the presence
d Col. Loeffler, the man who receives
the cards OF visitors and takes then
INTO the President. There are no seat
mere to speak Of Loefller sits on ,
walnut swivel chair before a fiat wal
nut desk, and the only furniture abou
nm consists OF two high backed chairs
painted red, which look as thougl
1hey We're intended for alawn or iron
porch. Up two or three steps at tn
fighti another landing, leading to tn
once ofCol. Crook. the disbursing cler
Oh the White House, on the lett hand
and to Col. Lamont's Office on til
right. A yellow Brussels carpet COY
ers the floor OF this, and $12 wa
nut table serves as desk for Arthur
.he messenger of Col. Lamont. ]
one corner stands little four-ga
ION black water cooler upon
cheap oil-cloth. Under the spiggc
mon tin slop-bucket to catch the DRIP
pings, and over the knob at the to
turned jelly tumbler with a THO
sna ragged rim. 1t is used as
drinking glass.
Goi. Crooks room is large, airy an
wen lighted. 1t has a good carpe
Two or three desks and q little sal
which is kept the money whlc
;uns the White House. A fire blazs
- the fireplace, and in front of tn
nss another Smyrna rug, the bindiI
- Z; which is badly frayed. Who sleeI
q Inns room do not know, but
",uing bed, with plate-glass from
arranged SO that it looks like
"a'u'fone, r fss in one corner